THE ORCHID REVIEW. 47 
sent from the collection of D. M. Grimsdale, Esq., Kent Lodge, Uxbridge. 
Both species are well-known and easily cultivated, and the latter is one of 
the most popular species we have, and produces a profusion of flowers 
during the early months of the year. 
Flowers of the distinct and very charming hybrid known as Lelio- 
cattleya X Hon. Mrs. Astor are sent from a collection of T. Statter, Esq., 
Stand Hall, Whitefield, by Mr. Johnson, together with a brilliant scarlet 
form of Sophronitis grandiflora, and splendidly developed flowers of 
Paphiopedilum x Calypso, P. X Madame Jules Hye, and P. X Leeanum 
Albertianum, the whole series being examples of excellent culture which it 
would be difficult to surpass. 
PAPHIOPEDILUM x HARRISIANUM. 
THE sportive character of this earliest hybrid in the genus—and especially 
of its variety Dauthieri—is now pretty well known, and now another 
example has appeared in the collection of R. le Doux, Esq., Marlfield, 
West Derby, Liverpool. The flower sent shows a broad, light green band, 
about two lines broad, right along the centre, while the area on either side 
is bright maroon-purple right up to the narrow white margin. Mr. Archer 
remarks that the plant has been in the collection for some years, but no 
such peculiarity has appeared before. It gives to the flower a very striking 
appearance, and, if it could be fixed, would be a distinct addition to the 
group. The history of the question above alluded to has already been 
detailed in these pages. 
. OBITUARY. 
CHARLES PILCHER.—Another of the old generation of Orchidists has 
passed away in the person of Mr. Charles Pilcher, who died at his residence 
at Wandsworth on December 2gth last. Mr. Pilcher, after learning his 
profession in some of the best gardens of the period, became gardener to 
T. W. Hodges, Esq., of Sandgate, Kent, and soon gained the confidence of 
his employer, who induced him, about the year 1850, to go to Australia to 
fill a position of trust in connection with the gold mines, during’ which 
period, the Gardeners’ Chronicle remarks, he introduced the first bunch of 
watercress into Australia, at a cost of much perseverance and something like 
£5, as he himself was wont to relate. On his return he was appointed head 
gardener to Mr. Sigismund Rucker, of West Hill, Wandsworth, where he 
served for upwards of thirty years, having under his charge one of the 
finest Orchid collections of the day. Mr. Pilcher retired on leaving Mr. 
Rucker’s service, but was a regular attendant at the R.H.S. meetings, and 
was for some years a member of the Orchid Committee. His name is 
